Members,
I recently purchased one of Titan Laboratories testing kits for the purpose of having my diesel engine oil analyzed. I have a 1991 Catalina with a Universal M-35XP engine, with about 3,000 hours on it. The oil is changed (including filters) in the fall every year, and I typically put about 100 hours on the engine annually. In a typical year, when I am not testing the oil, I remove the old oil as soon as possible (within 1 hour, so the oil is hot, and more can be extracted) when the boat is being hauled in the fall. Because I cannot access the drain plug, I use a “West Marine oil extractor” which consists of a long plastic tube placed in the oil fill, and is attached to a hand pump canister which holds 6-8 quarts. I normally extract 4 quarts.
Any suggestions regarding the best way to remove the 2.5 ounce sample for analysis? Should I extract the first 2.5 oz. into the canister, then put it in the sample container? Should the sample be taken from oil in the oil filter? Should I extract the entire 4 quarts, let it cool and settle, draw off the top then place the bottom 2.5 oz. in the sample jar?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave
Oil Sampling Proceedure
Fri, 10/17/2014 - 04:53
#1
Oil Sampling Proceedure
Generally oil extractors draw from the dipstick tube, not the filler opening. Regardless, using an oil extractor is preferred over all other collection methods as well as drawing out the sample immediately after engine shutdown. Here's how:
The idea here is to get contaminants as evenly suspended as possible, to draw from the suspension, and to minimize sample contamination. Drawing from the bottom of the pan, from a cold engine, from tipping the filter, etc will not give the best picture of what's going on.
Nick Caballero
Retired C36/375IA Mk II Technical Editor
Dave. I use to work in a predictive and preventive maintenance program and we did oil analysis as one of the programs. The one thing you want to do is to take it the same way each time. I would do it just as you got done running the motor and draw it out of the dip stick tube. If you only do it once a year it is fine. What they will do is give you a particle count and what metals they pick up. What you want Is a trend from year to year. Hope this helps
Randy Sherwood
Mutualfun 1990 # 1057
T/R W/K M35a
Home. Charlotte, Mi.
Boat. St Augustine,Fl.
Thanks for the advice. I drew the sample from the dipstick and sent to be tested. The sample was taken about a week ago. I will post any interesting result when received, probably in a month
Dave
Before I change the oil but after the engine is warm I:
*Unscrew the brass cap on the oil sump drain hose.
*Take the hose out of the metal bracket and tilt down into the bilge and into a capture cup.
*Take about 3 oz of that, to clear the hose, then set that cup aside.
*Raise hose when done filling cup and oil will stop
*Grab your oil sample cup
*Tilt hose down fill it with what you need
*Proceed with regular oil change
*Send sample off to Blackstone...
-Maine Sail
https://www.marinehowto.com/